Two-term State Representative Trish Ranson from Stillwater’s 34th District visited the Albright Barn Wednesday morning to share a light breakfast with Centennial Rotarians. She went over the regular legislative session as well as the special session and the extraordinary sessions. Many key issues remain unresolved. These include what to do with some of the roughly $1 billion Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The rural broadband expansion was one need. This gives internet and communication access to rural equal to that in urban areas. Funds would be used by local providers to lay fiber optic cable, gain access to telephone poles and purchase necessary equipment. Water infrastructure is another need. Stillwater’s aging Kaw pipes need repair. That necessitates cutting water service to Stillwater and other cities dependent on the Stillwater system. To keep service during pipeline repair Stillwater needs a place to temporarily store water to use during repairs. One such place is Lake McMurtry. That will require additional pipelines. Representative Ranson reminded Rotarians the legislature requires working with others and finding common ground, rather than stressing differences. In response to a question, she commented the biggest divide in the legislature is not Republican-Democrat. It is urban-rural. When it comes to allocating money it always has been.Pictured: David Thomas, Bob Darcy, Trish Ranson, and Brooks Thomas